Junk food is all around us. It is fast, it is cheap, and it is addicting.

It is also killing us.

Junk food is food that has a lot of calories and little nutritional value. Hamburgers, pizza, and soda, for example, are all examples of junk food.

Even though these foods are often easy to buy and tasty to eat, they should not be eaten often. In fact, they are making the South Madison community less healthy by the minute.

Only 1 out of every 10 teenagers, and 1 out of every 4 adults in Dane County eat the recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Many people are eating junk food instead.

Studies have shown that eating junk food can lead to serious health problems. These include obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression.

Every year, 611 Dane County residents die from heart disease and 59 die from diabetes. In addition, 1 out of every 10 teenagers, and 1 out of every 5 adults in Dane County are either overweight or obese.

Hmong, Hispanic and African Americans in Dane County are much more likely to be overweight or obese than Whites in the area.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

By choosing to eat healthy foods instead of junk foods, you can lower your chances of getting these deadly diseases.

Here at the South Madison Farmers’ Market, we love to give advice on healthy eating. Please stop by and ask us about how eating fruits and vegetables can help your health! We are always happy to help.

Eating healthy foods can be hard at first, but just remember to take it one step at a time.

The South Madison Farmers’ Market is here to help you get good food in your community, and supports you in living a healthier, longer life.